Medical Definition of Skull

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

Skull: The skull is a collection of bones which
encase the brain and give form to the head and face. The bones of
the skull include the following: the frontal, parietal, occipital,
temporal, sphenoid, ethmoid, zygomatic, maxilla, nasal, vomer,
palatine,
inferior concha, and mandible.

The early English word "skulle" came from the Nordic words "skal"
and "skul" meaning a bowl. It is also thought that the Nordic
toast "Skoal!" came from "skal" since ceremonial drinks were served
in a bowl (or skull).